Headline News

27, July 2016

Philemon Yang to meet with National Tourism Board today in Yaounde ⁰

The National Tourism Board, set up in 1999, as an advisory body for tourism development in the country, holds its fourteenth session today July 27, 2016 in Yaounde. The deliberations to be presided at by the Prime Minister, Head of Government, Philemon Yang, will centre on the theme “Developing the hotel industry in the perspective of Cameroon’s Emergence”.

The choice of the theme could not have been any better given the present context of Cameroon’s drive towards emergence and the upcoming continental football events in 2016 and 2019. Modernising the tourism industry ahead of these two important African female and male football events coupled with country’s quest to attain emergence, is a necessary impulse.

During the 13^th session of the board in December 2015, the Prime Minister, Philemon Yang who is the chair of the National Tourism Board gave instructions in view of modernising the tourism and leisure industry. The Prime Minister stressed on the intensification of dialogue between the public and private sector as well as the drawing up of a common training programme for operators to boost performance which will induce economic growth. Government’s policy on training of actors (proprietors, managers and personnel) of the tourism and leisure industry is already being implemented.

The Ministry of Tourism and Leisure has been organising a series of regional seminars for stakeholders of both public and private sector to upgrade skills and meet international standards. One of such seminars opened in Bafoussam, West Region on July 25, 2016 and will last for one week. The creation of a reference school for tourism and leisure would further consolidate government’s policy on harmonising training and boosting performance in order to spur economic growth. Thus, today’s session would examine ways of developing the hotel industry so that its pivotal role towards emergence is clearly diagnosed.

Cameroon Tribune

26, July 2016

The Holy Father in pain and horror over the barbaric murder of a priest in France ⁰

Pope Francis expressed his “pain and horror” Tuesday after two knife-wielding men in northern France took a number of people hostage at a church and killed a priest.

Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said the leader of the Roman Catholic Church had been particularly appalled by the “barbaric killing” that happened in a sacred place.

“The pope… participates in the pain and horror of this absurd violence,” media outlets quoted Lombardi as saying, adding that the attack created “immense pain and worry.”

The Tuesday attack hits particularly hard “because this horrific violence took place in a church, a sacred place in which the love of God is announced, and the barbaric murder of a priest and the involvement of the faithful,” the Vatican spokesman stated.

Lombardi described the attack “more terrible news that adds to a series of violence in these days that have left us upset, creating immense pain and worry.”

Presstv

26, July 2016

Malawi: HIV-positive man arrested for having sex with children ⁰

An HIV-positive Malawian man, who says he is paid to have sex with children as part of initiation rites, has been arrested on the president’s orders. Eric Aniva, a sex worker known in Malawi as a “hyena”, was the subject of a BBC feature last week.

He told the BBC that he did not mention his HIV status to those who hire him. President Peter Mutharika said the police should investigate and charge him over the cases of defilement he had seemingly confessed to.

The BBC’s Ed Butler, who covered the story about Malawi’s sexual “cleansing practices”, says in some remote southern regions of the country it is traditional for girls to be made to have sex with a man after their first menstruation. Some of the girls are as young as 12 years old, he reported.

What is known as a “hyena” in Malawi culture is usually a man who has sex with widows or married women who cannot fall pregnant.

“While we must promote positive cultural values and positive socialisation of our children, the president says harmful cultural and traditional practices cannot be accepted in this country,” presidential spokesman Mgeme Kalilani said in a statement

Mr Aniva would “further be investigated for exposing the young girls to contracting HIV and further be charged accordingly”, he said. The president had also ordered all men and parents involved to be investigated, Mr Kalilani said.

“All people involved in this malpractice should be held accountable for subjecting their children and women to this despicable evil,” the statement said. “These horrific practices although done by a few also tarnish the image of the whole nation of Malawi internationally and bring shame to us all.”

Last year Malawi banned child marriage, raising the legal age of marriage from 15 to 18 – something activists hoped would put an end to early sexual initiations. Mr Aniva told the BBC that he planned to stop taking part in sexual cleansing practices.

BBC

26, July 2016

France: 3 killed after knife-wielding men took a number of people hostage ⁰

At least three people have been killed after two knife-wielding men took a number of people hostage at a church in northern France, police say.

According to police sources, between four and six people were held by the assailants at the church in the Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray town of France’s northern Normandy region on Tuesday before security forces intervened and put an end to the hostage situation.

26, July 2016

Minister Martin Belinga makes first public appearance after a crazy rumour announced his passing to eternity ⁰

Martin Belinga Eboutou, Minister and Director of the Civil Cabinet at the Presidency of the Republic made a public appearance on Sunday, July 24, 2016, at the Basilica of Saint Jean Baptiste Ekié in Yaounde, after a crazy rumour announced his passing to eternity.

The Biya acolyte and the nation’s real number 2 represented the Head of State at a religious ceremony of the Synod of the Orthodox Catholic Church.

During the mass celebrated by His Beatitude Mathieu de Jesus, the Plenipotentiary Metropolitan Primate of the Central African sub-region, the Director of the Civil Cabinet at the Presidency of the Republic, appeared standing healthy, alive and active.

Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai (Cameroon Concord News Group)

26, July 2016

“Donald Trump fanning flames of fear and hatred” ⁰

US Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren has denounced Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump “for fanning the flames of fear and hatred” to win the November election. Speaking at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Monday night, the senator from Massachusetts made a spirited case for Hillary Clinton’s candidacy for the White House, and blasted Trump’s “hate-filled America.”

“That’s Donald Trump’s America,” said Warren. “An America of fear and hate. An America where we all break apart. Whites against blacks and Latinos. Christians against Muslims and Jews. Straight against gay. Everyone against immigrants. Race, religion, heritage, gender — the more factions the better.”

Warren, a former Harvard Law School professor, accused Trump of using the strategy of “divide and conquer” in order to further his agenda. “Dr. Martin Luther King knew it,” she said. “After his march from Selma to Montgomery, he spoke of how segregation was created to keep people divided… Racial hatred was part of keeping the powerful on top.”

She argued that when Americans turn on each other, they lose, and powerful people like Trump continue to have their way in Washington. “When we turn on each other, we can’t unite to fight back against a rigged system,” she said. “Well, I’ve got news for Donald Trump: The American people are not falling for it. … We’ve seen this ugliness before, and we are not going to be Donald Trump’s hate-filled America. Not now, not ever.”

Warren has emerged as one of Trump’s most prominent critics and joined a group of Democrats demanding the businessman publicly release his tax returns, implying that he is lying about his true business value. On Monday night, she described Mr. Trump as “a man who cares only for himself every minute of every day.”

Presstv

25, July 2016

Cameroon: Son of CPDM billionaire expelled from ENAM for cheating during exams ⁶

The Disciplinary Board of the National School of Administration and Magistracy (ENAM) has expelled five students, including three Cameroonians and two foreigners (a Chadian and a CAR) for cheating during second year examinations. Abas Mohamadou Ousmanou, son of CPDM billionaire from Ngaoundere, Alhaji Abbo is among the excluded.

They were caught trying to access documents related to a core module from their mobile phones. ENAM examination laws prohibit the use of any material or electronic devices. In response to a request for an explanation that was served to the students by the disciplinary board of ENAM, the respondents argued that: “Having almost finished, we pulled out our phones to look at the time. It was at that point that the supervisor asked us to hand over the phones to him”.

The students pleaded guilty of violating ENAM examination rules and regulations. Abas Mohamadou Ousmanou and his gang of fraudsters received no pity from the disciplinary board.

Rita Akana (Cameroon Concord News Group)

25, July 2016

China unveils world’s largest amphibious aircaft ⁰

China has unveiled the world’s largest production amphibious aircraft after seven years of work, which it plans to use to perform marine rescue missions and fight forest fires, the Xinhua news agency has reported. The AG600, which is about the size of a Boeing 737 and was developed by state aircraft maker Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), rolled off a production line in the southern city of Zhuhai on Saturday, Xinhua said quoting the firm. AVIC deputy general manager, Geng Rugang, said the plane was “the latest breakthrough in China’s aviation industry.” A plan for the development and production of the AG600 received government approval in 2009.

The aircraft has a maximum flight range of 4,500 km and can collect 12 tonnes of water in 20 seconds. It has a maximum take-off weight of 53.5 tonnes, Xinhua said. China has been ramping up research into advanced new military equipment, including submarines, aircraft carriers and anti-satellite missiles, which has rattled nerves regionally and in Washington as China takes a more muscular approach to territorial disputes in places like the South China Sea. In June, it put into service a new domestically-developed large transport aircraft, the Xian Y-20, powered by four jet engines.

Reuters

25, July 2016

Douala: GM of Cameroon Autonomous Port passes on!! ⁰

Emmanuel Etoundi Oyono who headed the Cameroon Autonomous Ports Authority has passed away. News of his transition to eternity was made public on Sunday July 24, 2016. Cameroon Concord News gathered that he was evacuated to France twice for medical reasons. Recently, he appeared in public and looked like a living corps.

On September 21, 2015, Emmanuel Etoundi Oyono left Cameroon for a one-month mission abroad and only returned to his native country after three months. He reportedly extended his stay due to a health problem. The Board of the Autonomous Port announced his replacement par interim on 11 December 2015.

Upon his return, the chartered member of the ruling CPDM crime syndicate flushed out Charles Michaux Moukoko Njoh, who had taken his seat and resumed duty despite his fragile health.

Sama Ernest (Cameroon Concord News)

25, July 2016

Maroua: Israel to revamp the economy of the Far North region ⁰

As the security situation caused by the Boko Haram insurgency improves, the Israeli government is bracing up to invest in the domains of agriculture, technology and infrastructure in a bid to revamp the economy of the Far North Region.

Israeli Ambassador to Cameroon, His Excellency Ran Gidor, discussed this and other related issues with the Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon. Cavaye Yeguie Djibril, during an audience in the latter’s cabinet on July 22, 2016. Speaking to the press later, H.E. Ran Gidor said the discussions enabled him to get the Speaker’s opinion on the pressing needs of the people of the Far North Region.

“He drew my attention to specific issues such as the lack of potable water and the need to attract Israeli investments in the domain of drip irrigation,” the diplomat disclosed. He pledged the concentration of Israeli efforts and resources in developing the Far North Region. In effect, he explained, agreements with some United Nations Organisation agencies will be finalised in the coming weeks for the first results to emerge, probably in two months.

Cameroon Tribune